Behind Enemy Lines: The True Story of a French Jewish Spy in Nazi Germany

by Marthe Cohn

Having seen so many people getting hurt, I made my way to the main Red Cross office and offered my help. “I’m a registered nurse,” I told them. “I’d like to volunteer to help those being wounded on the streets.” “Are you Jewish?” came the cold reply from the young woman on the front desk. “We’re not allowed to enlist Jews.”

The Red Cross, to its shame

Launched straight into training, I was given the affectionate nickname “Chichinette” by my chief trainer, Lieutenant Roger Verin, a name I hated but that stuck with me for the duration of the war. It means a fussy girl, and the rumor was that I’d raised a few eyebrows by not sharing my favors with my fellow officers.

How she got her nickname